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REPORT 


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OfWF- 

OFTHE  'u\K4^ 
Ju'M  At  «uw»s 
WBMWSVTf  *  'a 


Board  of  Education 


OF  THE 


CITY  OF  ROME,  N.  Y. 


DECEMBER,  1890. 


REPORT 


OF  THE 


Ioard  of  Education, 


OF  THE 


THE  ubraw  of  ehe 
jUN2l^3 
university  of  uiinois 


CITY  OF  ROME,  N.  Y. 


DECEMBER,  1890. 


ROME,  N.  Y.: 

Beers  &  Kessinger,  Printers. 
1890. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign  Alternates 


https://archive.org/details/reportofboardofeOOboar 


/7f.  7t7 

/?  664- 
is&lft0 


Members  of  the  Board  of  Education. 


HON.  EDWARD  COMSTOCK, 
OfVM.  R.  HUNTINGTON, 
JER0ME  GRAVES, 

E.  STUART  WILLIAMS, 

T.  M.  FLANDRAU,  M.  D., 
wit.  E.  SUTTON,  M.  D., 


Term  Expires  October,  1891. 
“  “  “  1892. 

“  '  “  “  1893- 


OFFICERS. 


R.  E.  SUTTON,  - 
WM.  R.  HUNTINGTON, 
M.  J.  MICHAEL,  - 


President,  and  Treasurer  ex-officio. 

Clerk. 

Superintendent  and  Librarian. 


Standing  Committees. 


FINANCE  AND  REPORTS. 

WM.  R.  HUNTINGTON,  JEROME  GRAVES. 

LIBRARY  AND  SCHOOL  APPARATUS. 

E.  STUART  WILLIAMS,  R.  E.  SUTTON. 

EXAMINATION  AND  EMPLOYMENT  OF  TEACHERS. 

T.  M.  FLANDRAU,  E.  STUART  WILLIAMS. 

LOTS,  BUILDINGS  AND  SUPPLIES. 

EDWARD  COMSTOCK,  T.  M.  FLANDRAU. 

TEXT  BOOKS  AND  COURSE.  OF  STUDY. 

EDWARD  COMSTOCK,  R.  E.  SUTTON. 

DISCIPLINE  AND  V.ISITING  SCHOOLS. 

JEROME  GRAVES,  WM.  R.  HUNTINGTON. 


List  of  Teachers  Appointed  for  the 
School  Year  1890-91. 


ACADEMY. 

SALARY. 

Principal,  Simeon  A.  Watson,  A.  M., 

Latin  and  Greek, _ $1,200 

Mary  L.  Bissell,  Literature,  French  and  German,  600 

Sarah  J.  Higham,  A.  M.,  Greek  and  Latin, _  500 

Mary  E.  Beach,  Higher  Mathematics, _  500 

Carrie  P.  Biggam,  Natural  Science, _  500 

Mary  E.  Cornwell,  English, _ _  500 

Delle  M.  Turtelot,  Common  English, 

Commercial  Department, _  500 

LIBERTY  STREET  SCHOOL. 

Principal,  Edward  B.  HARRIS, _  800 

Belle  Williams,  Principal’s  Assistant, _  350 

.Minnie  Grosvenor,  “  “  _  350 

Sarah  M.  Taft,  Principal  Grammar  Department,. .  500 
Sara  A.  Beers,  Assistant  “  “  300 

Mary  E.  Dean,  Principal  Intermediate  “  _  450 

Annie  R.  Bielby,  Assistant  “  “  '  __  300 

ELLA  Van  DRESAR,  Principal  Primary  “  400 

Georgianna  Huntington,  Ass’t  Primary  Dep’t,.  300 


List  of  teachers.  5 

THOMAS  STREET  SCHOOL. 

Principal,  Mary  L.  Buck,  Grammar  Department,.  .$  500 
Elizabeth  C.  McGinnis,  Principal’s  Assistant,.. _  300 

Cora  M.  Wright,  **  “  ...  250 

*Kittie  Robinson,  “  “  ...  300 

Anna  M.  Freer,  Principal  Intermediate  Dep’t, _  400 

Kittie  Courtney,  “  Primary  “  ...  350 

Ida  Holmes,  Principal  Annex  Primary  “  _  275 

JAY  STREET  SCHOOL. 

Principal,  Sarah  E.  Parry,  Grammar  Department,  500 

Anna  Catlin,  Principal’s  Assistant, _  275 

Clara  M.  Ninde,  “  “  _  275 

Minnie  France,  Principal  Intermediate  Dep’t, _  400 

Mary  Cummings,  “  Primary  “  ...  400 

JAMES  STREET  SCHOOL. 

Principal,  JOHN  G.  Hough,  A.  B.,  Grammar  Dep’t,  700 

Hattie  May  Fox,  Principal’s  Assistant, _ ...  300 

Della  L.  Huff,  “  “  _  _  275 

Georgianna  Wheeler, 

Principal  Intermediate  Dep’t,  400 
Emily  J.  Kimball,  “  Primary  “  400 

EAST  ROME  SCHOOL. 

Principal,  D.  Edward  Roberts,  Grammar  Dep’t,  500 
Hattie  L.  Rowley,  Principal  Intermediate  “  350 

Minnie  Wood,  “  Primary  “  400 


^Resigned  Nov.  7,  ’90. 


6 


LIST  OF  TEACHERS. 


SOUTH  JAMES  STREET  SCHOOL. 


(primary  school.) 

Principal,  Frances  G.  Henderson, _ $  450 

Mary  E.  Dietrich, _  350 

Marion  Clarke, _  250 

WEST  ROME  SCHOOL. 

Principal,  Tina  D.  Ross, _ _  350 

SPECIAL  TEACHERS. 

Byron  Rice,  Supervisor  of  Vocal  Music, _ . _  55° 

Emma  Sabine, 

Supervisor  of  Drawing  and  Penmanship,  550 


ANNUAL,  REPORT 


OF  THE 

Board  of  Education 

OF  THE 

CITY  OF  ROME,  N.  Y. 


To  the  Mayor  and  Common  Council  of  the  City  of  Rome , 
N.  Y: 

Gentlemen — At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Education 
of  the  city  of  Rome,  on  the  23d  day  of  September,  1890, 
the  following  report  of  the  Committee  on  Finance  was 
approved  and  ordered  transmitted  to  the  Common  Council, 
as  the  report  of  the  Board  of  Education  for  the  year  end¬ 
ing  July  1,  1890.  Very  respectfully, 

WM.  HUNTINGTON,  Clerk. 


To  the  Board  of  Education  of  the  City  of  Rome ,  N.  Y: 

Gentlemen — We  respectfully  submit  the  following  as 
the  report  of  your  Committee  on  Finance  for  the  year 
ending  July  1,  1890: 


RECEIPTS. 

Tuition _ _ _ _ 

Teachers’  class..  _ 

Literature  fund _ _ _ 

Public  money _ 

Library  fund  from  regents . . 

Interest  on  deposits _ 

Rejected  taxes _ _  _ 

Tax  levy _ _ _ _ 


$  407  11 

190  00 
874  14 
6,985  18 
1 50  00 
49  00 
11  67 
16,025  46 


Total  receipts 


$24,692  56 


8 


BOARD  OF  EDUCATION. 


DISBURSEMENTS. 


^eachers’ salary . .  _ $17,312  50 

Supervision _ 1,800  00 

Janitors  and  school  carpenter _ _  1,316  50 

Miscellaneous  items _ 957  52 

Printing  _ _ 187  15 

Supplies - 189  79 

Fuel _ 1,164  63 

Insurance _ _ _ _  132  50 

Buildings  and  lots - - 759  59 

School  furniture .  . . . .  ..  _  272  30 

Library  and  apparatus _  176  34 

Stoves  and  furnaces _ 104  55 

Interest  on  loans _ 97  72 


Total  disbursements _ _  $24,471  09 

Cash  on  hand  July  I,  1890 _  _  221  47 


TEACHERS. 


$24,692  56 


Myron  T.  Scudder _ 

Mary  L.  Bissell . . 

Jane  S.  Higham _ 

Mary  E.  Beach _ 

Carrie  P.  Biggam _ 

Mary  E.  Cornwell. _ 

Delle  M.  Turtelot _ 

Ralph  A.  Stewart  _ 

Belle  Williams _ 

Sarah  M.  Taft _ 

Ella  Van  Dresar _ 

Elizabeth  E.  Higham _ 

Maria  L.  Bradt . . 

Georgianna  Huntington 

Anna  R.  Bielby _ 

Minnie  E.  Grosvenor _ 

John  G.  Hough _ 

Minnie  Wood _ 

Helen  E.  Thalman _ 

Mary  L.  Buck.  _ 

Anna  M.  Freer _ 

Susie  E.  Beal .  . . 

Elizabeth  C.  McGinnis  . 


$  1,400 

00 

600 

00 

500 

00 

492 

00 

498 

00 

500 

00 

450 

00 

795 

00 

321 

80 

455 

00 

390 

00 

375 

00 

340 

83 

294 

00 

275 

00 

365 

70 

600 

00 

394 

00 

350 

00 

500 

00 

400 

00 

350 

00 

300 

00 

FINANCE  REPORT. 


9 


Kittie  Robinson _  _ $  275  00 

Sarah  E.  Parry _  _ 500  00 

Mary  Cummings _ _  380  00 

Minnie  France. _ _ 370  00 

Anna  Catlin _ . _ _ _ _  25000 

Clara  M.  Ninde _ 250  00 

Frances  G.  Henderson _  450  00 

Hattie  L.  Rowley _ 300  00 

Mary  E.  Dean _ 500  00 

Georgianna  Wheeler _  396  00 

Emily  J.  Kimball _ 376  00 

Kittie  Courtney _ _ 300  00 

Hattie  M.  Fox _  294  75 

Mary  E.  Deitrich _ _ 378  00 

Emma  Sabine _ 550  00 

Byron  Rice _  ... _ _  _ _  500  00 

Ida  Holmes,  supply...  _ 73  75 

Avis  Le  Roi,  supply  _ 12  50 

Della  L.  Huff,  supply _ _ 102  50 

Tina  D.  Ross,  supply _  _  50  87 

Albertie  Seeley,  supply _  4  80 

Ralph  Vincent,  supply _ _ 15  00 

Josephine  Lewis,  supply _ 7  50 

John  W.  Nicholson,  supply _ 7  50 

Susie  Collins,  supply _ 22  00 


Total  teachers’  salaries _ _ _ _  $17,312  50 

SUPERINTENDENT. 

Myron  J.  Michael  ..  _ _ $  1,800  00 

- - - $  1,800  00 

JANITORS. 

Obadiah  Yates,  Academy  and  Jay  Street  School _ $  347  50 

Abram  Yates,  Thomas  and  Jay  Street  School _  260  00 

Sarah  Ehrhart,  Liberty  Street  School _ _  249  00 

Barbara  Sailer,  South  James  Street  School _  _  70  00 

Ellen  Bush,  East  Rome  School _ _  _ _ _  130  00 

Delilah  Morrell,  West  Rome  School... _ _  60  00 

- $  1, 116  50 

SCHOOL  CARPENTER. 

O.  Yates,  general  repairs,  on  all  school  buildings _ $  200  00 

— — - — —  $  200  00 


IO 


BOARD  OF  EDUCATION. 


MISCELLANEOUS  ITEMS. 

Andrew  Brickner,  rent  of  store  for  school  room.  ioo  oo 

Katie  Brickner,  care  of  store  for  school  room _  8  oo 

O.  O.  Mitchell,  rent  of  organ _  io  oo 

Byron  Rice,  tuning  and  repairing  organs  for  1889..  35  00 

Byron  Rice,  tuning  and  repairing  organs  for  1890..  35  35 

Mitchell  &  Yordon,  rent  of  organ  for  1889 _  10  00 

G.  V.  Selden  &  Co.,  lumber . . .  39  55 

J.  W.  McCarthy,  repairing  pump _  35 

George  Payne,  electric  bells,  repairing  pump _  14  40 

Abram  Yates,  labor _  30  12 

Washington  Street  Opera  House  Co.,  Academy  com¬ 
mencement,  ’89  and  ’go _  105  00 

F.  J.  Hager  &  Co.,  glass,  paints,  and  oils _  36  29 

United  States  Excavating  Co.,  cleaning  privy _  1  50 

W.  Frisbie,  load  of  sand _ _ I  00 

J.  M.  Orton  &  Sons,  repairing  furniture _  13  08 

Katie  Rugutz,  cleaning _ 8  00 

George  P.  Russ,  rent  of  store  for  school  election _  10  00 

R.  H.  Randell,  80  singing  books  for  Academy _  32  00 

T.  J.  Powell,  carting  rubbish _  26  25 

Sarah  Ehrhart,  labor _ 3  00 

Emma  Sabine,  lettering  diplomas . . 5  00 

W.  PI.  Maxham,  1  dozen  jars _ _  1  50 

Conrad  Shaller,  labor _ 2  00 

Walter  Claus,  labor _ 6  00 

M.  J.  Michael,  paying  bills  as  per  vouchers . .  25  42 

Delle  M.  Armstrong,  office  rent  Jan.  1,  to  Oct.  ’Sg_  45  00 

Philip  Ehrhart,  labor _  3  75 

PI.  L.  Stillman,  clerk  at  school  election _  3  00 

Charles  Carmichael,  clerk  at  school  election _  3  00 

George  Scott,  city  directory _  2  00 

Withers  &  Dickson,  architect’s  fees _  250  00 

C.  H.  Jackson,  plumbing _ _ 1  35 

Raffauf  &  Carl,  one  barrel  of  salt...*.. _ 1  00 

Michael  Donegan,  labor _ 1  50 

John  Townsend,  hardware _ _ 24  29 

George  Heburn,  labor _  2  58 

Jesse  Heinig,  labor _ _ _  50 

Ellen  Bush,  labor _ 7  00 

Returned  erroneous  tax _  10  04 

Rome  Gas  Light  Co. . 3  60 


FINANCE  REPORT. 


I  I 

A.  M.  Jackson  &  Co.,  carpet  for  Academy  stage — $  17  95 

R.  F.  Havens,  labor _  75 

Casper  G.  Rider,  paving -  1  00 

M.  T.  Scudder,  postage  and  express -  2  75 

O.  Yates,  for  paying  bills  for  snow  shoveling -  14  15 

L.  H.  Bowers,  binding  books -  2  50 

Louisa  Rung,  labor -  -  xoo 

Total _ -----  $  957  52 

PRINTING. 

Beers  &  Kessinger - - - - $  57  10 

Byam  &  Briggs - - - -  10  75 

J.  J.  Guernsey,  2  years,  ’89  and  ’90 _  102  25 

City  of  Rome,  painting  reports -  -  17  5° 

Total _  $  187  15 

SUPPLIES. 

Baker  &  Fox,  wire  door  mats,  ribbon  for  diplomas.. $  8  72 

Jones  &  Armstrong,  books  and  stationery _  38  90 

Cleveland  Printing  and  Publishing  Co.,  diplomas _  14  90 

Wilson  &  Greenfield,  curtain  fixtures,  stationery _  39  94 

C.  W.  Bardeen,  models  for  drawing  classes _ _  27  51 

Central  New  York  Pottery,  1  barrel  modeling  clay..  9  00 

Smith  Brothers,  brooms _ 6  50 

Prang .  Educational  Co.,  10  gross  Dixon’s  pencils, 

models _  31  00 

J.  Halstead,  stationery _  4  48 

J.  G.  Bissell  &  Co.,  chemicals _  8  84 

Total _ _  $  189  79 

FUEL. 

George  W.  Kinney  &  Sons _ $  101  50 

John  Baynes _  278  75 

Owens,  Day  &  Co _  200  40 

T.  W.  Edwards _ 137  00 

Kelley  &  Schneible _  125  10 

E.  Campbell. _ _  118  38 

J.  W.  Armstrong,  wood _  113  50 


Total 


$  1,164  63 


12 


BOARD  OF  EDUCATION. 


INSURANCE. 

Geo.  W.  G.  Kinney  . . . . . . $  22  50 

Roth  Brothers . . . . . . .  50  00 

James  H.  Searles _ _  60  00 

Total - - -  $  132  50 

BUILDING  AND  LOTS. 

George  Jeal,  painting  and  kalsomining,  material _ $  325  08 

Edward  Comstock,  ceiling  for  West  Rome  School. _  78  06 

Geo.  P.  Russ,  putting  city  water  into  three  schools.  212  72 
Thomas  &  Gerwig,  general  repairs  and  ceiling  West 

Rome  budding _ _ _  57  62 

Hills  &  Martin,  general  repairs _  77  03 

D.  Byarn,  mason  work _ _ _ _  9  08 

Total  -  -  -  $  759  59 

SCHOOL  FURNITURE. 

Andrews  manufacturing  Co.,  desks  for  Academy  and 

East  Rome _ _ _ _ _ $  173  80 

T.  M.  Orton  &  Sons,  tables  and  chairs _  98  50 

Total _ _ _  $  272  30 

LIBRARY  AND  APPARATUS. 

Charles  L.  Webster  &  Co.,  10  vols _ _ $  30  00 

Romeyn  B.  Hough,  6  vols.  Am.  Woods.. . .  27  00 

J.  E  Massee,  map  of  N.  Y.  State. . . .  .  7  00 

Graves  &  Reifert,  chemicals  and  chemical  apparatus,  30  57 

H.  L.  Stillman,  books _ _  14  00 

Geo  H.  Weaver,  books _  _  10  80 

Wilson  &  Greenfield,  books _  56  97 

Total _ _  $  176  34 

STOVES  AND  FURNACES. 

N.  F.  Parks,  repairs  and  cleaning .  . $  35  17 

J.  D.  Ely  &  Co.,  repairs  and  cleaning _  49  85 

F.  W.  Clark,  repairs  and  cleaning _  19  53 

Total _ _ _  $  104  55 

WM.  R.  HUNTINGTON, 

Committee  on  Finance. 


FINANCE  REPORT. 


13 


On  the  23d  day  of  September  the  following  estimates 
for  the  current  year  were  submitted  to  the  Board  by  the 
Committee  on  Finance,  and  the  same  were  adopted  as 
the  estimates  of  the  Board  of  Education  : 

ESTIMATED  EXPENDITURES. 


For  instruction  and  supervision _ $19,800  00 

“  janitors’  wages _  1,437  5° 

“  fuel _  1,062  50 

“  extraordinary  repairs  (So.  James  street) .  _  1,500  co 

“  general  repairs _ _ _ _ _  500  00 

“  insurance _  200  00 

“  library _ _ _  100  00 

“  contingencies.. _ _ _ _ , _  _  600  00 


Total  estimated  expenditures _ _ 

ESTIMATED  RECEIPTS. 

From  public  money _ _ _ $  6,600  00 

“  literature  fund.  _ _  700  00 

“  tuition _  500  00 

“  tax  levy _ 17,400  00 


$25,200  00 


Total  estimated  receipts 


$25,200  00 


Superintendent’s  Report. 


To  the  Board  of  Education : 

Gentlemen —  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  my  report  of 
the  schools  of  Rome  for  the  year  ending  July  I,  1890. 


The  following  table  will  show  the  total  registration, 
average  registration,  and  average  daily  attendance  for  the 
past  five  years  : 


1886. 

1887. 

1888. 

1889. 

1890. 

Total  registration. 

...1,867 

1,912 

1.957 

0 

00 

Oi 

2,096 

Average  registration. 

.  .  1,461 

1.470 

1,517 

1,601 

1,599 

Average  daily  attendance _ 

--I.I95 

1,206 

1,274 

1,342 

1,305 

The  average  daily  attendance  for  each  of  the  30  class 
teachers,  not  including  the  Academy,  was  42  pupils;  the 
average  registration  for  each  was  54,  with  an  average 
total  registration  of  70  pupils  per  teacher. 

The  average  daily  attendance  at  the  Academy  gave  to 
each  of  the  7  teachers  an  average  of  22  pupils,  on  the 
basis  of  average  registration  27  pupils,  and  on  the  basis  of 
total  registration  28.  In  comparison  with  the  lower 
grades  the  number  of  pupils  per  teacher  in  the  Academy 
seems  very  small,  but  when  the  fact  is  considered  that  the 
195  students  registered  are  divided  into  five  classes,  (sen¬ 
ior,  senior-middle,  junior-middle,  junior,  and  preparatory,) 
and  that  each  class  is  pursuing,  wholly  or  in  part,  a  differ¬ 
ent  set  of  studies,  no  one  will  claim  that  each  teacher’s 
time  is  not  fully  occupied  with  class  work. 


1889-90 


SCHOOLS. 

No.  of  Sittings. 

SEPT. 

OCT. 

NOV. 

DI 

SC.  1 

JAN. 

1  FI 

SB. 

MAI 

RCH 

API 

Average  Daily  1 
Attendance.  |  - 

M/ 

^.Y. 

JUNE.  ' 

YEAR. 

Number  Enrolled 
During  the  Year. 

No.  in 
Attendance. 

Daily  Average 
Attendance. 

No.  in 
Attendance. 

Average  Daily 
Attendance. 

No.  in 
Attendance. 

Average  Daily 
Attendance. 

No.  in 

Attendance. 

Average  Daily 

Attendance. 

No.  in 
Attendance. 

Average  Daily 
Attendance. 

No.  in 

Attendance.  1 

Average  Daily 
Attendance. 

No.  in 
Attendance. 

Average  Daily 
Attendance. 

No.  in 
Attendance. 

No.  in 

Attendance. 

Average  Daily 

Attendance. 

No.  in 
Attendance. 

Average  Daily 
Attendance. 

Average 

Registration. 

Average  Daily 

Attendance. 

Academy  . . .  . 

196 

I  178 

163 

185 

163 

|  189 

164 

190 

161 

178 

149 

176 

158 

1 8° 

160 

1S0 

140 

’ 

180 

142 

180 

140 

184 

■j  *54 

|  *95 

Liberty  Street  School . 

440 

417 

354 

462 

353 

397 

329 

412 

342 

408 

3*8 

413 

348 

404 

334 

;  416 

343 

403 

346 

380 

329 

411 

340 

552 

Primary  Department. 

j  117 

93 

139 

84 

89 

63 

103 

721 

92 

72 

105 

80 

107 

84 

,  129 

102 

1  133 

108 

t  120 

96 

i*3 

85 

Intermediate  Department . . 

79 

68 

85 

68 

81 

9.3 

83 

69 

83 

58 

83 

69 

79 

64 

82 

67 

75 

64 

70 

65 

80 

65 

Grammar  School  Department.... 

106 

93 

US 

98 

1 12 

98 

’  I  12 

99 

in 

90 

114 

97 

I  105 

9T 

103 

88 

99 

88 

97 

91 

107 

93 

Advanced  School  Department _ 

115 

100 

123 

103 

115 

103 

b 

102 

122 

91 

hi 

102 

1  113 

95 

102 

86 

96 

86 

93 

77 

hi 

95 

Thomas  Street  School . 

256 

245 

198 

267 

225 

275 

204 

276 

210 

282 

I  1 8 1 

259 

215 

265 

206 

227 

!  2 1 1 

279 

207 

279 

213 

265 

108I 

i  351 

Primary  Department. . . . 

94 

70 

100 

76 

104 

65 

106 

721 

1 12 

57 

93 

72 

95 

66 

98 

72 

103 

70 

103 

77 

100 

70 

Intermediate  Department. . . 

65 

52 

71 

58 

73 

57 

71 

56 

71 

49 

70 

59 

73 

59 

75 

58 

75 

60 

75 

6° 

72 

57, 

Grammar  School  Department _ 

86 

76 

96 

91 

98 1 

82 

'  99 

82 

'  99 

7i 

96 

84 

97 

81 

100 

81 

101 

77 

IOI 

76 

97 

80 

Jay  Street  School . 

266 

256 

220 

260 

190 

236 

179 

223 

l83j 

225 

164 

230 

200 

225 

200 

258 

225 

258 

209 

254 

209 

242 

198 

326 

Primary  Department . . 

|  107 

89 

109 

69 

85 

63 

81 

65 

84 

64 

88 

74 

88 

75 

114 

99 

115 

90 

120 

87 

99 

78l 

Intermediate  Department . . 

65 

58 

66 

1  49 

66 

47 

58 

48 

58| 

41 

60 

52 

58 

53 

61 

53 

58 

50 

56 

51 

60 

54 

Grammar  School  Department _ 

!  84 

74 

85 

72 

85 

69 

84 

70 

83 

59 

82 

74 

79 

72 

83 

73 

35 

69 

78 

71 

83 

70 

James  Street  School  . . 

210 

248 

187 

264 

213 

262 

212 

256 

!  2I3 

258 

190 

250 

196 

240 

190 

264 

205 

257 

193 

218 

180 

252 

19S1 

344 

Primary  Department . 

S  131 

94 

136 

101 

131 

98 

125 

101 

125 

87 

I2Q 

96 

123 

98 

151 

117 

l60 

120 

129 

103 

134 

IOI 

Intermediate  Department _ 

59 

49 

66 

57 

70 

59 

72 

60 

75 

56 

65 

54 

62 

49 

63 

48 

56 

4i 

5°; 

40 

64 

55 

Grammar  School  Department .... 

I  58 

44 

62 

55 

61 

55 

59 

52 

58) 

47 

56 

46 

55 

43 

50 

40 

41 

32 

39 

37 

54 

45* 

East  Rome  School . 

207 

142 

1 16 

147 

122 

151 

124 

133 

1 19 

132 

92 

141 

IIOl 

136 

107 

137 

H7 

132 

113 

133 

119 

138 

114; 

180 

Primary  Department . . . 

72 

60 

73 

56 

63 

54 

63 

56 

62  j 

41 

70 

54 

71 

55 

77 

60 

74 

58 

66 

56 

69 

55! 

Intermediate  Department . . 

26 

20 

24 

21 

35 

22 

21 

18 

23 

14! 

1  l6 

12 

1  H 

12 

16 

21 

23 

22 

15 

15 

21 

181 

Grammar  School  Department _ 

44 

36 

5° 

45 

53 

48 

49 

45 

47 

37 

55 

44 

51 

40 

44 

36 

33 

52 

48 

41 

49 

South  James  St.  Primary  School.. 

no 

78 

65 

” 

7i 

74 

64 

77 

65 

75 

60 

75 

66 

73 

62 

79 

65 

75 

63 

1  7i 

57, 

71 

64 

90 

West  Rome  School.. . 

60 

41 

32 

49 

37 

44 

33 

35 

2  S  j 

29 

23 

29 

24 

3° 

21 

32 

25 

32 

23 

28 1 

20 

35 

26 

58 

Primary  Department  . . . 

23 

19 

26 

20 

22 

16 

is 

14 

13; 

11 

13 

11 

14 

IO 

20 

14 

20 

14 

isl 

12 

19 

14 

Intermediate  Department  . 

9 

6 

12 

9 

1 1 

8 

6 

4 

4 

7 

4 

7 

3 

4 

3 

5 

3 

4 

3 

7 

4 

Grammar  School  Department 

9i 

7 

11 

8 

11 

9 

11 

ioj 

9 

8 

9 

9! 

1  9 

8 

8 

7 

7 

6 

6 

5! 

9 

8 

Totals _ _ 

1745 

1635I1336 

1711 

1374 

16281 

13081 

1602 

1321 

i6°7| 

1177 

*5731 

j 

1317! 

155311280 

1593 

133111 

1616  12981 

1543  1267 

1599I1305 

2096 

superintendent's  report. 


17 

The  following  tables  will  be  of  interest  as  a  means  for 
comparison  of  cost  per  capita,  for  tuition,  including  super¬ 
vision,  and  all  other  ordinary  expenses  for  the  past  five 
years : 


ACADEMY. 

1886. 

1887. 

1888. 

1889. 

1890- 

The  cost  for  tuition  per  pupil  1 

•eg- 

istered  _  .  ... 

.-.$27.15 

$23.56 

$26.25 

$20.75 

$23.84 

The  cost  for  all  other  ordinary 

ex- 

penses  _  _  _ _ 

...  2.54 

2  30 

2.50 

2.15 

2.05 

Total  average  cost  per  pupil  . 

---$29.69 

$25.86 

$28.75 

$22.90 

$25.89 

IN  THE  LOWER  GRADES. 

The  cost  for  tuition  per  pupil  i 

eg- 

istered  . .  .  _  _  . 

...$  7.00 

$  7-20 

$  7-43 

$  7-95 

$  7-60 

The  cost  for  all  other  expenses 

_  2.98 

2.50 

2-37 

1. 81 

2.23 

Total  average  cost  per  pupil . . 

...$  9.98 

$  9-7° 

$  9.80 

$  9-76 

$  9-83 

From  the  above  estimates  are  excluded  all  sums  of 
money  expended  on  permanent  improvements  of  school 
property. 

From  September  2,  1889,  to  June  20,  1890,  the  schools 
were  in  session  187  days,  39  teachers  were  continuously 
employed,  and  222  official  visits  were  made  by  the  super¬ 
intendent  to  examine  the  condition  of  the  schools. 

The  preceding  table  of  statistics  will  show  the  essential 
facts  of  attendance  in  the  several  departments  of  the  city 
public  schools  for  each  school  month  of  the  year. 

Buildings. 

In  each  of  my  reports  I  have  considered  at  length  the 
matter  of  enlarging  our  school  accommodations  and  the 
improvement  of  our  older  buildings.  What  I  now  say  is 
not  to  remind  your  honorable  body  of  conditions  with 
which  you  are  doubtless  familiar,  but  to  present  to  our 
citizens  a  statement  of  what  has  been  done  along  the  line 


18  superintendent’s  report. 

of  improvement,  and  if  possible,  to  make  clear  the  needs 
which  must  be  met  before  our  school  buildings  can  possi¬ 
bly  meet  the  demands  of  our  present  registration. 

The  shingle  roofs  of  the  East  Rome,  Liberty,  James 
and  Thomas  street  buildings  have  been  replaced  with  tin. 
Hard  wood  floors  have  been  laid  in  the  Liberty,  James 
and  Thomas  street  schools.  The  West  Rome  building 
has  received  a  new  shingle  roof  and  the  interior  has  been 
ceiled  with  Carolina  pine,  finished  in  natural  color.  The 
South  James  street  building  has  been  practically  rebuilt 
and  so  arranged  as  to  nearly  double  its  seating  capacity. 
The  wood  work  of  all  the  school  houses,  except  the 
Academy,  has  been  painted,  and  their  walls  have  been 
kalsomined.  The  James  Street  School  has  been  supplied 
with  modern  individual  desks. 

The  Ruttan-Smead  system  of  heating  and  ventilating 
and  the  Smead  dry  closets  have  been  placed  in  the  Jay 
and  Thomas  Street  Schools.  The  svstem  has  been  in 
operation  in  the  Jay  Street  School  three  years  and  in  the 
Thomas  Street  School  two  years,  with  entire  satisfaction. 
These  two  schools  are  the  only  ones  in  the  city  having  a 
a  thorough  system  of  ventilation.  It  is  a  pleasure  to  visit 
them  in  cold  weather  and  note  the  uniform  temperature, 
the  freshness  of  the  air  in  the  different  rooms,  and  the 
sense  of  comfort  that  prevails  with  children  and  pupils. 

These  improvements  have  been  made  in  the  past  four 
years,  a  part  having  been  done  each  summer  vacation. 
Necessary  as  they  were  to  preserve  and  make  inhabitable 
public  property,  except  in  the  case  of  the  South  James 
street  school,  not  one  inch  of  additional  space  has  been 
gained  to  accommodate  the  increased  registration. 

Excepting  the  East  and  West  Rome  schools  there  is 
not  a  public  school  building  in  the  city  that  has  not  been 


superintendent’s  report. 


1 9 


shamefully  overcrowded  more  or  less  of  the  time  in  some 
of  its  departments  for  the  past  six  or  seven  years.  To  be 
fully  understood,  let  me  refer  to  the  Liberty  street  school 
for  an  example.  The  principal’s  room  is  36x32x13^ 
feet,  giving  to  the  pupils  15,552  cubic  feet  of  airspace. 
According  to  the  State  Board  of  Health  and  the  best 
authorities  on  school  architecture,  each  pupil  should  be 
allowed  16  square  feet  of  floor  space,  and  at  least  250 
cubic  feet  of  air  space,  and  the  air  of  the  school  room 
should  be  completely  changed  every  twenty  minutes. 
Thus,  the  room  referred  to  above  should  never  seat  more 
than  62  pupils. 

The  facts  of  the  case  are  as  follows  :  There  are  1 18  sit¬ 
tings  in  the  room.  At  present*  over  140  pupils  are  reg¬ 
istered,  and  frequently  as  many  as  124  pupils  are  seated 
in  the  room  at  one  time,  the  excess  over  sittings  being 
accommodated  with  chairs.  There  is  grave  uncertainty 
whether  or  not  the  air  of  the  room  is  entirely  changed 
during  a  session  of  school  of  three  hours’  duration.  The 
students  in  this  room  range  in  age  from  twelve  to  twenty 
years,  and  require  as  much  space  as  adults.  We  are  prac¬ 
tically  incasing  them  in  a  box  about  6x5x4  feet  and 
inviting  them  to  take  their  fresh  air  supply  through  a 
small  knot  hole  in  one  side  of  the  box.  I  have  not  sin¬ 
gled  out  this  one  room  as  an  exception.  Even  worse 
conditions  than  those  cited  above  have  been  noted  in  the 
various  departments  of  other  buildings. 

In  May,  1890,  the  attendance  in  the  primary  departments 
of  the  James  and  Thomas  street  schools  became  so  large 
that  it  was  necessary  to  hire  additional  school  room. 
The  surplus  of  children  of  the  former  school  was  accom¬ 
modated  in  the  Washington  Hose  Company’s  room  on 

*  Nov.  1,  ’8g. 


20 


superintendent’s  report. 


South  James  street.  The  Thomas  Street  School  was 
relieved  by  renting  a  dwelling  on  the  corner  of  Fox  and 
Mary  streets. 

The  repairs  on  the  South  James  street  school  house 
have  made  it  possible  to  accommodate  all  the  children  of 
school  age  in  that  part  of  the  city.  In  all  probability  no 
more  room  will  be  needed  in  the  James  street  district  for 
several  years. 

With  its  low  ceilings,  and  with  no  provision  for  ventila¬ 
tion  the  dwelling  house  used  to  relieve  the  Thomas  Street 
School  is  not  suitable  for  school  purposes.  It  should  be 
abandoned  at  an  early  date.  Having  failed  to  find  suita¬ 
ble  rooms  for  the  relief  of  the  crowded  primary  depart¬ 
ments  of  the  Liberty  and  Jay  street  schools  it  was  consid¬ 
ered  best  to  divide  these  two  departments  so  as  to  give 
each  pupil  only  a  half  day’s  session  in  school.  This  plan 
has  not  been  in  operation  long  enough  to  enable  me  to 
reach  a  satisfactory  conclusion  in  regard  to  its  desira¬ 
bility.  One  thing,  however,  is  certain,  the  plan  meets 
the  approval  of  those  teachers  who  have  sustained  the 
severe  strain  incident  upon  conducting  recitations  of 
large  classes,  and  at  the  same  time  keeping  in  order  fifty 
or  sixty  active  children  not  engaged  in  the  recitation. 

The  layman,  watching  the  easy  progress  of  work  in  a 
well  organized  school  can  not  form  a  true  conception  of 
the  constant  effort  put  forth  by  the  teacher.  He  never 
will  know  how  tiresome  the  work  is  unless  he  takes  the 
teacher’s  place  and  tries  to  produce  the  results  which 
seemed  to  come  so  easily  when  some  one  else  was  respon¬ 
sible  for  them. 

I  am  inclined  to  the  opinion  that  for  very  young  chil¬ 
dren,  during  their  first  year  at  school,  a  half  day’s  session 
is  sufficient.  This  plan  could  not  be  applied  to  other 


Superintendent’s  report. 


21 

grades  without  serious  detriment  to  the  children’s  prog¬ 
ress.  In  view  of  the  facts  stated  above,  and  of  the  addi¬ 
tional  facts  that  our  city  has  a  population  of  nearly  3,000 
more  people  than  it  had  in  1880,  and  that  its  population 
is  gradually  increasing,  but  one  conclusion  can  be  reached, 
viz.:  Our  school  accommodations  must  be  increased,  or  the 
doors  of  our  schools  will  be  closed  to  a  large  number  of 
our  children. 

Two  plans  for  gaining  additional  room  have  been  sug¬ 
gested.  One  is  to  build  additions  to  each  of  the  old 
buildings  sufficiently  large  to  meet  the  present  require¬ 
ments.  The  other  favors  the  erection  of  a  building 
at  some  central  place,  presumably  the  Academy  lot,  large 
enough  to  accommodate  all'  the  advanced  grades,  includ¬ 
ing  the  academic  department,  the  Liberty  Street  Advanced 
School  and  the  sixth  and  seventh  year  pupils  of  the  other 
schools. 

The  average  age  of  the  youngest  class  brought  to  this 
central  school  would  be  about  1 1  years.  The  walk  from 
any  part  of  the  city  would  not  be  a  hardship  for  the 
children. 

The  first  cost  of  this  central  building  would  probably 
be  more  than  the  expense  of  building  small  additions  to 
each  of  the  old  buildings,  including  a  much  needed  enlarge¬ 
ment  of  the  present  Academy.  But  there  would  be  econ¬ 
omy  in  teacher’s  wages,  fuel  and  repairs.  If  the  good  of 
the  schools  is  to  be  considered,  the  plan  which  brings 
together  the  oldest  children  in  our  schools  under  one  prin¬ 
cipal,  leaving  all  the  available  space  in  the  other  buildings 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  very  young,  must  commend 
itself  to  any  one  seeking  to  promote  the  highest  efficiency 
of  our  city  system  of  schools. 


22 


superintendent's  REPORT. 


The  difference  in  cost  of  the  two  plans  need  not  be 
more  than  $10,000  or  $15,000.  If  the  school  district  was 
to  be  bonded  for  the  entire  amount  with  a  small  portion 
of  the  indebtedness  maturing  annually,*  the  additional  tax 
would  not  be  burdensome. 

This  method  of  raising  the  money  would  also  allow 
those  who  derive  the  greatest  benefit  from  the  schools  to 
help  pay  for  their  educational  advantages.  Without  wish¬ 
ing  to  appear  to  dictate  any  particular  plan  for  adoption, 
I  can  not  leave  this  ever  recurring  subject  without  urging 
the  importance  of  bringing  this  matter  before  the  people 
for  their  consideration  at  an  early  date. 


The  Schools. 


from  the  teachers,  and  from  the  records. 

The  following  is  a  summary  of  the  R 
tions  for  the  year  ending  June  20,  1890: 

1 

Algebra,  Through  Quadratics,  - 
American  History,  - 

Physical  Geography,  .... 

Physiology,  ------ 

Rhetoric,  - 

Plane  Geometry,  - 

Book-keeping,  - 

Civil  Government,  - 

English  Literature,  - 

History  of  England,  - 

History  of  Greece,  - 

History  of  Rome,  - 


m  the  late  prin- 

t  facts  gathered 

the  institution, 

agents’ 

examina- 

rumber 

N  umber 

Entered. 

Passed. 

63 

51 

78 

45 

II 

8 

51 

48 

16 

15 

22 

16 

30 

19 

21 

18 

20 

19 

IS 

17 

12 

9 

IO 

10 

superintendent’s 

REPORT. 

Number 

^3 

Number 

Entered. 

Passed. 

Political  Economy, 

9 

9 

Astronomy,  - 

8 

7 

Chemistry,  - 

14 

11 

Physics,  - 

-  19 

i5 

Caesar,  - 

22 

19 

Virgil’s  Eclogues,  ... 

9 

9 

Virgil's  yEnid,  - 

9 

9 

Cicero’s  Orations,  - 

1 

1 

Greek  Composition,  - 

4 

4 

French  Translation,  - 

9 

8 

German,  - 

16 

15 

Latin  Prosie  Composition, 

4 

4 

Xenophon,  - 

2 

2 

Homer,  - 

3 

3 

The  following  table  is  of  interest  as  a  matter  of  com- 


parison  : 

"o  ro 

0  4 

0  *0 

'0  ^ 

Ooo 

0  <5> 

6 

O  O' 

si 

£<5 

«.  1 

£*2 

If 

£*2 

II 

If 

If 

Academic  scholars  in  atrendance, 

97 

94 

IOI 

109 

127 

ri9 

149 

161 

Preliminary  certificates  received. 

24 

46 

42 

61 

59 

68 

5i 

56 

Intermediate  certificates  received, 

6 

13 

20 

24 

16 

37 

19 

32 

Academic  diplomas  received,  - 

0 

3 

IO 

14 

13 

14 

15 

18 

College  entrance  diplomas  received,  - 

0 

0 

I 

3 

1 

1 

2 

5 

Students  graduated  in  academic  course, 

18 

25 

13 

19 

16 

13 

15 

20 

Students  graduated  in  classical  course, 

0 

5 

2 

3 

1 

1 

2 

5 

The  four  years’  course  of  study  established  in  1888,  is 
now  fairly  inaugurated.  No  new  subjects  were  added  to 
the  course,  but  an  additional  year  was  allowed  for  more 
thorough  study  of  those  subjects  required  for  graduation 
in  the  earlier  course. 

We  are  now  able  to  give  our  classes  in  algebra  one  and 
a  half  year’s  work  instead  of  one,  and  one  year  in  geom- 


24 


superintendent's  REPORT. 


etry  instead  of  two-thirds  of  a  year,  with  an  elective 
course  in  solid  geometry  for  the  benefit  of  students  pre¬ 
paring  for  college  or  schools  of  technology. 

The  Regents  have  added  a  third  year  to  the  work  in 
modern  languages,  to  be  occupied  in  acquiring  a  general 
knowledge  of  French  and  German  literature,  by  reading 
such  representative  classical  modern  French  and  German 
authors  as  they  shall  prescribe.  So  far  this  additional 
work  meets  with  the  favor  of  the  students  in  that  depart¬ 
ment. 

A  new  departure  has  also  been  made  by  the  Regents 
in  their  examinations  in  the  English  language.  Instead 
of  the  examinations  in  English  grammar  as  heretofore, 
there  will  be  one  in  elementary  English,  including  com¬ 
position,  the  simpler  parts  of  grammar,  and  a  course  in 
reading;  and  the  advanced  English  examination,  includ¬ 
ing  the  science  of  grammar,  analysis,  composition,  and  a 
course  in  reading. 

It  has  also  been  determined  by  the  Regents  to  hold, 
hereafter,  two  examinations  a  year,  instead  of  three  as 
formerly,  except  in  special  cases  to  meet  certain  condi¬ 
tions  certified  by  the  trustees  of  schools  demanding 
three. 

The  department  of  English  in  the  Academy  has  already 
done  considerable  work  in  keeping  with  the  new  require¬ 
ments  of  the  Regents.  The  present  senior  middle  class 
may  be  regarded  the  representative  class  in  English,  hav¬ 
ing  had  special  study  of  the  subject  more  than  a  year. 

In  addition  to  the  usual  study  of  rhetoric  and  composi¬ 
tion,  there  has  been  a  careful  study  of  one  or  more  repre¬ 
sentative  American  and  English  authors. 


superintendent’s  report. 


One  important  production  of  an  author  was  critically 
studied  in  recitation,  paying  especial  attention  to  its  con¬ 
struction  as  a  whole,  to  its  paragraph  and  sentence  struct¬ 
ures,  and  to  its  diction,  after  which  the  students  were 
required  to  submit  a  written  analysis  of  the  piece.  This 
work  was  followed  by  reading,  outside  of  recitation,  other 
works  by  the  same  author.  In  this  way  the  class  has  taken 
up  the  works  of  Irving,  Longfellow  and  Scott.  It  is 
intended  to  continue  a  similar  line  of  work  with  the  suc¬ 
ceeding  classes. 

This  brief  statement  of  the  English  work  can  not  give 
an  adequate  idea  of  the  results  accomplished.  They  are 
manifest  in  the  increased  demand  for  good  books  from 
the  library,  and  in  the  development  of  a  taste  for  whole¬ 
some  literature. 

Recognizing  the  great  importance  of  forming  correct 
habits  of  reading,  we  have  begun  the  preparation  of  a 
course  of  study  in  English  which  shall  engage  the  student’s 
attention  at  least  one  recitation  daily  during  his  academic 
course.  The  pupils  have  been  led  to  good  discipline 
through  self-control  rather  than  by  a  system  of  surveil¬ 
lance.  The  excellent  deportment  of  the  students  in  the 
Academy  for  the  past  four  years,  under  three  different 
principals,  shows  how  well  this  principle  of  good  govern¬ 
ment  has  been  learned. 

Grammar  Schools. 

As  a  result  of  the  Regents’  examinations  88  pupils  were 
promoted  from  the  Liberty  Street  Advanced  School  to 
the  Academy.  Sixteen  of  these  having  passed  all  the 
preliminary  examinations  are  classed  as  academic  stu¬ 
dents,  the  rest  as  preparatory.  To  relieve  the  crowded 
condition  of  the  Advanced  School  a  resolution  was 


26 


superintendent’s  report. 


adopted  by  the  Board  of  Education  five  years  ago  which 
provides  that  students  may  enter  the  Academy  in  Septem¬ 
ber  on  presenting  Regents’  pass  cards  in  geography  and 
spelling.  The  effect  of  this  resolution  is  to  encourage 
pupils  to  put  special  stress  upon  geography  and  spelling 
to  the  possible  neglect  of  their  other  studies. 

In  all  grades  above  the  second  up  to  the  seventh,  inclu¬ 
sive,  written  examinations  are  held  at  the  middle  and 
close  of  the  school  year,  to  determine  the  progress  of  the 
several  grades.  Each  child  is  supplied  with  a  copy  of 
printed  questions,  pen,  ink  and  paper.  One  whole  session 
is  allowed  the  pupil  in  which  to  write  the  answers. 

It  has  been  our  careful  aim  to  grade  the  questions  so 
as  to  fully  test  the  pupil’s  proficiency,  and  yet  keep  them 
within  the  limits  of  his  intellectual  grasp.  It  is  a  safe 
estimate  to  say  that  over  ninety,  per  cent,  of  the  pupils 
successfully  passed  these  examinations.  In  most  cases 
the  failures  were  due  to  sickness  or  irregularity  of  attend¬ 
ance. 

In  the  first  and  second  grades  promotions  are  made  in 
accordance  with  our  judgment  of  the  individual’s  ability 
to  do  the  work  of  the  next  higher  class. 

In  all  the  departments  of  our  school  work,  except  in 
reading,  I  am  happy  to  report  satisfactory  progress.  The 
work  in  arithmetic,  geography  and  language  has  been 
exceptionally  good.  I  have  never  felt  satisfied  with  our 
work  in  the  reading  classes,  and  I  think  our  teachers  share 
this  opinion  with  me. 

The  fault  is  not  a  lack  of  effort  on  the  part  of  our 
teachers,  but  rather  the  absence  of  proper  material  with 
which  to  teach  most  effectively  this  very  important  sub¬ 
ject.  Perhaps  the  Rome  schools  will  compare  favorably 


superintendent’s  report. 


2; 


with  the  schools  in  many  other  places  in  this  department, 
yet  we  can  be  justly  criticised  for  not  producing  bet¬ 
ter  results  in  reading.  That  our  children  can  read  a  given 
selection  with  correct  pronunciation  and  fair  expression 
when  they  enter  the  academic  course  is  true,  but  it  is  a 
fact  that  a  large  proportion  of  them  fail  to  reach  the 
thought  in  the  lines  they  pronounce  so  glibly.  This  I 
think  is  due  to  two  causes,  viz.:  The  long  continued  use 
of  the  same  reader,  and,  as  a  result  of  this,  the  selections 
in  the  book  become  stale  and  unprofitable.  The  child 
concentrates  his  efforts  upon  reading  a  selection  with  such 
pronunciation  and  expression  as  will  meet  the  teacher’s 
approval,  rather  than  upon  the  thought  contained. 

It  has  been  claimed  by  some  educators  that  a  child  can 
not  read  with  expression  a  selection  he  does  not  under¬ 
stand.  Undoubtedly  a  full  comprehension  of  thought 
aids  oral  expression,  yet  children  have  been  taught  to 
render  with  admirable  elocutionary  effect  selections  from  a 
foreign  language  of  which  they  knew  the  meaning  of  not 
one  word.  Frequently  the  selections  in  the  ordinary 
school  readers  are  too  fragmentary  to  stimulate  the  child’s 
interest,  and  too  abstruse  to  reach  his  comprehension. 
Especially  is  this  true  above  the  third  readers. 

After  having  once  read  through  from  cover  to  cover, 
the  first,  second,  third  or  fourth  reader,  the  child  is  not 
prepared  to  begin  a  reader  of  a  more  difficult  grade.  The 
common  practice  is  to  send  him  back  over  the  same  old 
stories  for  the  second,  third,  and  sometimes  the  fourth 
time.  What  a  foolish  waste  of  time  and  effort !  While 
listening  to  the  listless,  spiritless  recitation  of  a  selection  the 
class  has  read  for  the  third  or  fourth  time,  it  has  often 
occurred  to  me  that  we  are  losing  golden  opportunities 
for  bringing  before  these  young  people  the  great  master- 


28 


superintendent’s  report. 


pieces  of  English  composition,  many  of  which  are  written 
in  a  style  so  simple  as  to  be  easily  understood  by  them. 

The  school  reader,  properly  used,  serves  a  good  pur¬ 
pose,  but  when  its  contents  are  read  and  re-read,  time 
after  time,  its  influence  is  harmful.  No  child  should  be 
compelled  to  read  for  the  second  time  the  same  reader  if 
the  first  reading  was  properly  done.  There  is  nothing  in 
a  child’s  school  life  so  profitless.  The  great  compositions 
of  our  language  should  be  studied  instead.  These,  in 
their  wholeness,  will  leave  lasting  impressions  on  the 
mind.  They  will  stimulate  interest  and  through  this  cul¬ 
tivate  a  permanent  taste  for  the  best  in  literature.  “  The 
power  to  read  opens  innumerable  avenues  of  growth.  It 
will  lead  on  to  the  better  or  the  worse  side  ol  life ;  which 
side  depends  on  the  choice  of  reading  placed  before  pupils 
in  their  impressionable  years,  and  on  the  skill  with  which 
the  teacher  uses  this  material  for  the  cultivation  of  a  lit¬ 
erary  taste.” 

The  publishers  of  school  books,  recognizing  the  grow¬ 
ing  demand  for  a  more  intelligent  presentation  of  this  sub¬ 
ject,  have  prepared,  in  attractive  form,  unabridged  selec¬ 
tions  from  a  large  number  of  authors. 

At  present,  in  our  school  rooms,  not  including  the 
Academy,  there'are  no  books  of  reference,  no  books  for 
supplementary  reading,  and  none  of  the  ordinary  charts 
used  in  teaching  phonics. 

In  every  school  room  above  the  first  grade,  there 
should  be  a  carefully  selected  reference  library,  including 
an  inexpensive  encyclopedia,  dictionary,  books  on  natural 
history,  natural  science  and  biography. 

In  addition  to  these,  to  supplement  the  regular  text 
book  in  reading,  there  should  be  enough  duplicate  copies 


superintendent’s  report. 


29 


of  choice  literature  to  provide  each  child  with  a  book. 
All  these  books  should  be  the  property  of  the  public 
schools,  in  the  keeping  of  the  superintendent  and  teach¬ 
ers,  who  should  be  held  strictly  accountable  for  loss  or 
damage  resulting  from  neglect. 

Without  making  exact  estimates,  I  am  of  the  opinion 
this  equipment  can  be  furnished  for  less  than  three  hun¬ 
dred  dollars  for  the  first  supply,  and  a  possible  outlay  of 
fifty  dollars  annually  for  new  books  and  repairs.  I  most 
earnestly  recommend  for  your  consideration  the  purchase 
of  such  books  and  charts  as  will  meet  the  above  indicated 
wants  of  our  schools. 

In  the  fall  of  1888,  we  began  to  use  the  Prang  system 
of  drawing  and  form  study.  Since  then  a  new  impetus 
has  been  given  to  the  work  in  this  important  branch  of 
study.  The  special  teacher  met  the  teachers  of  the  prim¬ 
ary  and  intermediate  grades  once  a  week,  to  give  them 
instruction  in  methods  of  presenting  the  subject  to  their 
classes.  These  regular  teachers  are  now  doing  much  of 
the  work  of  form  study  in  those  grades,  under  the  direc¬ 
tion  of  the  special  teacher.  This  plan  gives  the  teacher 
of  drawing  more  time  for  the  advanced  grades  in  which  her 
services  are  indispensable. 

Prior  to  the  beginning  of  the  last  school  year,  the  pub¬ 
lishers  of  the  Prang  system  had  introduced  their  books 
into  many  cities  and  towns  in  this  state.  They  consid¬ 
ered  it  a  good  business  policy,  to  send  at  their  expense 
a  skilled  teacher,  Miss  Sargent  of  Boston,  to  these  places, 
to  supervise  the  proper  introduction  of  the  system.  Rome 
received  its  proportionate  share  of  this  teacher’s  services. 
Our  teachers  met  Miss  Sargent  after  school  hours  to 
receive  instruction  in  approved  methods  of  teaching  the 
system.  She  also  spent  much  time  in  our  schools  inspect- 


30 


superintendent’s  report. 


ing  and  directing  the  work  of  the  classes.  The  exercises 
of  the  children  were  sent  by  express  to  the  Boston  office 
of  the  Prang  Educational  Company  for  review  and  criti¬ 
cism.  The  good  and  bad  points  were  carefully  noted, 
and  suggestions  returned  by  mail  to  the  teachers.  The 
work  of  our  pupils  was  considered  sufficiently  meritorious 
in  Boston,  to  warrant  Miss  Sargent  in  sending  to  fifteen 
children,  each  a  beautiful  prize  selected  from  Prang’s  art 
studies. 

Vocal  music  continues  to  receive  its  usual  share  of  time 
in  the  curriculum  of  our  schools.  The  fruits  of  the  past 
five  years’  labor  with  this  branch  are  apparent  in  all  our 
schools.  The  results  are  eminently  satisfactory.  At  pres¬ 
ent  an  active  glee  club  is  one  of  the  organizations  in  the 
Academy,  a  thing  hardly  to  be  hoped  for  when  music  first 
began  to  be  taught. 

ft 

Last  June  a  public  concert  was  given  by  the  members 
of  the  club,  under  the  direction  of  the  teacher,  in  the 
Washington  Street  Opera  House  for  the  benefit  of  the 
student’s  reading  room  and  library.  Considering  the  age 
and  lack  of  experience  of  those  who  took  part,  the  con¬ 
cert  was  very  creditable. 

Speaking  of  our  schools  in  general,  I  think  the  tend¬ 
ency  is  to  thoroughness  of  work,  to  quality  rather  than 
quantity. 

Teachers’  meetings  were  held  regularly  in  conformity 
with  the  following  programme.  The  discussions  were 
general,  and  much  enthusiasm  was  manifested. 

Office  of  the  Board  of  Education,  ) 
Rome,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  8,  1889.  f 

Programme  for  teachers’  meetings  at  the  Academy 
Building  at  3:30  P.  M.,  on  the  following  dates : 


superintendent's  report. 


3 


October  14.  Subject : — Is  it  important  to  teach  pho¬ 
nics  ?  If  so,  when  shall  instruction  begin,  and  how  shall 
it  be  done  ? 

November  4.  Subject: — How  can  we  secure  the  best 
results  in  arithmetic?  What  points  should  be  empha¬ 
sized,  what  omitted  ? 

December  2.  Subject : — Is  it  important  to  develop  the 
imagination?  If  so,  when  shall  the  development  begin, 
and  how  shall  it  be  done? 

January  13.  Subject : — Methods  of  teaching  geography 
in  the  different  grades. 

February  3.  Subject: — The  teacher’s  responsibility 
with  respect  to  morals,  manners,  absence  and  tardiness  of 
pupils. 

March  3.  Subject: — The  educational  importance  of 
reading.  Good  methods  of  presenting  the  subject  to 
intermediate  and  primary  grades. 

April  14.  Subject : — Good  methods  of  presenting  the 
subject  to  advanced  grades.  How  shall  we  develop  a 
taste  for  good  reading? 

May  5.  Subject : —Modeling,  form  study  and  drawing 
as  factors  in  education. 

June  2.  Subject: — How  can  the  study  of  a  language 
be  pursued  to  the  best  advantage?  Spoken  and  written 
language.  Grammar. 

One  hour  will  be  devoted  to  the  discussion  of  topics  at 
each  meeting. 

Every  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  the  city  is 
expected  to  strive  to  make  these  meetings  mutually  bene- 


32  superintendent’s  report. 

ficial,  and  other  persons  receiving  copies  of  this  programme 
are  cordially  invited  to  be  present  and  join  in  the  discus¬ 
sions.  It  is  desirable  to  have  each  subject  treated  in  its 
various  relations  to  the  different  grades  of  school  work. 

M.  J.  MICHAEL, 

Superintendent  of  Schools. 

Play  Grounds. 

I  can  not  close  this  report  without  reference  to  a  sub¬ 
ject  closely  allied,  if  not  identical  with  education  in  its 
broadest  sense.  I  refer  to  physical  training.  It  is  not 
my  purpose  to  discuss  the  relation  between  physical  and 
mental  development.  That  the  two  are  closely  related  in 
training  children  for  the  responsibilities  of  life  no  one  will 
deny.  Then  may  it  not  be  fairly  questioned,  why  spend 
so  much  money  for  the  one  and  not  one  dollar  for  the 
other  ? 

The  narrow  limits  of  our  school  yards  are  not  ample 
enough  to  serve  the  requirements  of  unrestricted  out  door 
sports.  With  our  miles  of  fine  walks,  our  delightfully 
shaded  streets  and  well  kept  parks,  there  is  not  one  acre 
of  ground  to  which  our  young  people  can  retire  for  out 
door  sports  and  recreation,  free  to  indulge  in  such  games 
as  propriety  and  health  require. 

There  should  be  somewhere  not  far  from  the  central 
part  of  the  city  a  park  set  apart  for  this  purpose,  large 
enough  to  accommodate  our  boys  and  girls  with  tennis 
and  croquet  courts,  base  and  foot-ball  grounds,  free  to  all 
who  will  make  proper  use  of  it. 

Library  and  Apparatus. 

At  no  time  since  the  existence  of  the  library  have  so 
many  books  been  drawn  as  during  the  year  ended  June 


superintendent’s  report. 


33 


20th.  Since  September  i,  1889,  about  $300  worth  of  new 
books  have  been  added,  which  will  greatly  enhance  its 
value. 

There  seems  to  be  a  prevailing  opinion  that  this  library 
is  open  only  to  the  students  and  teachers  of  the  Academy. 
This  is  a  serious  mistake.  Any  resident  of  the  Union 
Free  School  District  of  the  city  of  Rome  is  entitled  to  a 
free  use  of  this  library  under  certain  restrictions.  There 
are  now  about  1,700  good  books  in  the  library  which 
ought  to  become  instruments  for  good  in  the  community 
instead  of  gathering  dust  on  the  shelves.  A  catalogue  of 
the  books  is  in  course  of  preparation  and  will  be  ready 
for  distribution  in  a  few  weeks.  As  soon  as  this  is  ready 
the  library  will  be  open  to  the  public  daily  from  11:30 
A.  M.,  to  12:30  P.  M.  New  cases  have  been  built  for  the 
philosophical  apparatus  in  the  basement  of  the  Academy, 
which  afford  plenty  of  room  for  the  convenient  arrange¬ 
ment  of  the  instruments.  The  Alumni  Association  of 
Rome  Free  Academy  have  furnished  elegant  ash  cases 
for  the  Alice  T.  Armstrong  memorial  collection  of  corals 
and  shells.  The  specimens  have  been  mounted  to  show 
them  to  the  best  advantage,  rather  than  in  accordance 
with  scientific  classification. 

On  February  26,  1890,  Commissioner  Charles  Sherman 
Smith  passed  to  an  immortal  life  after  a  brief  illness. 

In  closing  this  report  I  wish  to  acknowledge  my  obli¬ 
gations  to  the  press  of  the  city  for  courtesies  received  ; 
to  the  teachers  for  their  fidelity  in  the  performance  of 
many  arduous  duties,  and  to  the  members  of  the  Board 
of  Education  for  their  timely  counsel  and  cordial  support. 

Very  respectfully  submitted, 

M.  J.  MICHAEL, 

Superintendent  of  Schools. 


34 


IN  MEMO RIAM. 


The  following  minute  of  respect  was  adopted  at  a 
special  meeting  of  the  board  of  education  and  recorded 
in  the  minutes: 

3n  (JTtemoriam. 

We,  the  members  of  the  Rome  Board  of  Education  of 
the  city  of  Rome,  deeply  feeling  the  loss  sustained  by  us 
in  the  death  of  Charles  Sherman  Smith,  our  friend  and 
associate ;  and  recognizing  his  personal  worth  as  a  citizen 
and  public  officer,  his  purity  of  life  and  sterling  character, 
his  correct  judgment,  wisdom  in  council,  great  interest 
and  unremitting  labors  in  behalf  of  the  schools  in  part 
committed  to  his  care,  regard  his  demise  as  a  calamity  to 
us  personally,  to  the  public  schools  and  to  the  entire 
municipality;  and  desiring  to  bear  witness  to  his  consci¬ 
entious,  intelligent  and  faithful  discharge  of  duty  for  the 
entire  eight  years  of  his  continuous  service  in  this  body, 
during  which  the  care  and  management  of  the  school 
property  was  his  almost  exclusive  charge,  and  in  the  con¬ 
duct  of  which  he  displayed  unusual  ability,  we  place  this 
minute  on  the  records  of  the  board  ;  and,  as  an  expression 
of  the  deep  sympathy  we  feel  for  the  bereaved  family,  the 
public  schools  of  this  city  shall  be  closed  on  Monday, 
March  3,  the  day  of  his  funeral,  and  the  members  of  the 
Board  of  Education,  the  superintendent  of  schools,  and 
the  teachers  will  attend  his  funeral,  and  a  properly 
engrossed  copy  of  this  minute  shall  be  forwarded  to  his 
family  by  the  secretary. 


Recent  Legislation  Relating  to  the 
Schools  of  Rome. 


CHAPTER  39I. 

An  Act  to  amend  chapter  twenty-five,  of  the  laws  of 
eighteen  hundred  and  seventy,  entitled  “  An  act  to 
incorporate  the  city  of  Rome,”  and  the  acts  amenda¬ 
tory  thereof. 

Approved  by  the  Governor  May  21,  1890.  Passed, 
three-fifths  being  present. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  New  York ,  represented  in  Senate 
and  Assembly ,  do  enact  as  follozvs : 

Section  i.  Section  four  of  title  ten  of  chapter  twenty- 
five  of  the  laws  of  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy,  as 
enacted  by  section  twenty-six  of  chapter  forty-nine  of  the 
laws  of  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy-one,  entitled  “  An 
act  to  amend  an  act,  entitled  ‘  An  act  to  incorporate  the 
city  of  Rome/”  as  amended  by  chapter  five  hundred  and 
seventy-six  of  the  laws  of  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy- 
five,  is  hereby  amended  so  as  to  read  as  follows: 

§  4.  The  amount  to  be  raised  for  school  purposes  in 
said  district,  known  as  the  “  union  free  school  of  the  city 
of  Rome,”  shall  be  determined  by  the  Board  of  Educa¬ 
tion.  Detailed  estimates  of  amount  so  required  to  be 
raised  shall  be  furnished  to  the  Common  Council  and  filed 
with  the  Chamberlain,  whereupon  the  same  shall  be  levied 
and  collected  by  the  Common  Council  in  the  same  man- 


36 


SCHOOL  LEGISLATION. 


ner  as  city  taxes,  as  provided  in  title  five  of  this  act.  But 
if  said  estimates  shall  in  any  year  include  five  thousand 
dollars  or  more  for  the  erection  of  new  buildings,  the 
Board  of  Education  may  in  such  estimates  propose  that 
such  amount  for  the  erection  of  new  buildings  shall  be 
borrowed  upon  the  bonds  of  the  said  school  district  of  the 
city,  and  the  question  of  the  raising  of  said  amount  so 
proposed  to  be  raised  for  the  erection  of  new  buildings, 
shall  be  submitted  at  a  special  election  called  therefor  by 
the  Common  Council,  to  the  taxpayers  of  the  city,  said 
election  to  be  conducted  by  the  same  officers  provided  by 
law  to  conduct  the  charter  elections  of  said  city.  And 
each  elector  appearing  by  the  last  assessment  roll  of  each 
ward  of  the  school  district  of  said  city  as  assessed  thereon 
shall  be  entitled  to  vote  for  or  against  the  raising  of  said 
proposed  amount,  and  if  the  vote  for  the  raising  of  said 
proposed  amount  shall  have  the  most  votes,  then  the 
amount  so  proposed  to  be  borrowed  shall  not  be  included 
by  the  Common  Council  in  the  amount  to  be  levied  and 
collected  during  that  year,  and  the  Board  of  Education 
may  issue  the  bonds  of  the  said  school  district  of  the  city 
of  Rome,  signed  by  the  President  of  said  Board  of  Educa¬ 
tion  and  sealed  with  the  seal  of  said  Board,  for  the  prin¬ 
cipal  amount  so  proposed  to  be  borrowed.  The  bonds  so 
issued  shall  each  be  for  the  principal  sum  of  five  hundred 
dollars,  bearing  interest  at  a  rate  not  exceeding  five  per 
cent,  per  annum,  payable  not  oftener  than  semi-annually, 
and  the  total  principal  amount  of  said  bonds  shall  be  pay¬ 
able  in  equal  annual  installments  thereafter  during  a 
period  of  not  more  than  twenty  years,  and  the  said  bonds 
may  be  negotiated  by  said  Board  of  Education  for  not 
less  than  their  par  value,  and  the  proceeds  thereof  shall 
be  deposited  to  the  credit  of  the  Board  of  Education  with 
the  depository  or  depositories  of  the  school  moneys  of 


SCHOOL  LEGISLATION. 


3  7 


said  city.  The  principal  amount  of  said  bonds  maturing 
in  each  year,  together  with  the  whole  amount  of  interest 
on  all  the  bonds  matured  and  unmatured,  payable  during 
each  year,  shall  be  levied  and  collected  by  the  Common 
Council  in  each  year,  in  the  same  manner  and  at  the  same 
time  as  other  school  taxes  in  said  district.  Said  Board 
of  Education  shall  yearly  and  whenever  required  so  to  do 
by  the  Common  Council,  make  and  deliver  to  the  Com¬ 
mon  Council  a  detailed  statement  showing  and  account¬ 
ing  for  all  moneys  that  have  been  received  and  expended 
by  or  through  them  since  the  date  of  their  last  preceding 
report  thereof  to  the  Common  Council. 

State  of  New  York.  \  # 

Office  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  j 

I  have  compared  the  preceding  with  the  original  law  on 
file  in  this  office,  and  do  hereby  certify  that  the  same  is 
a  correct  transcript  therefrom  and  of  the  whole  of  said 
original  law.  Frank  Rice, 

Secretary  of  State. 


38 


Twentieth  Annual  Commencement 

- OF  - 

^  Ror7?e  *  R pee  *  /\c5,den7y,  ^ 

erXJJSTE  19,  1890. 

PROGRAMME. 

JOHN  RUMNEY  SEARLES,  -  -  -  Classical  Honor 

“Greek  and  Roman  Ideals  of  Education.” 


IDA  LOUISE  REVELEY, 

“  Dirt,  Darkness  and  Disease.” 

-  Scientific  Honor 

FLORENCE  BISSELL,  ...  Modern  Language  Honor 


“  Heroes  of  the  Wagner  Opera.” 

S.  WARDWELL  KINNEY,  - 

English  Honor 

“  An  American  Pantheon.” 

JULIA  DINSMORE  FLANDRAU, 

“  A  Curious  Woman.” 

Mathematical  Honor 

WILLIAM  LEVERETT  MORGAN,  - 

“  Physical  Culture.” 

Latin  Honor 

ANNA  EUPHRASIA  CROSS, 

“  Oliver  Wendell  Holmes.” 

Essay  Honor 

ELIZABETH  CADY  PRESCOTT,  - 

“  Ghosts.” 

-  Academic  Honor 

AWARDING  OF  DIPLOMAS. 

EUGENE  HENRY  CARPENTER,  -  -  Oratorical  Honor 

Oration  with  Valedictory,  Subject,  “  Purpose.” 


Class  of  ’90. 


Motto ,  "Steering,  not  Drifting," 


ARTHUR  FULLER  CARPENTER, 
EUGENE  HENRY  CARPENTER, 
THOMAS  JOHN  GEORGE, 

RICHARD  KENEFICIC, 

S.  WARDWELL  KINNEY, 

WILLIAM  LEVERETT  MORGAN, 
GEORGE  JAMES  O’CONNOR, 

JOHN  RUMNEY  SEARLES, 

ARTHUR  SEDWICK  ROBERTS  SMITH. 

CORA  ALDRIDGE, 

JENNIE  E.  BINKS, 

FLORENCE  BISSELL, 

ANNA  EUPHRASIA  CROSS, 

NORA  MARGARET  DOYLE, 

JULIA  DINSMORE  FLANDRAU, 

MARY  MAUD  GREMS, 

JOSEPHINE  LEWIS, 

HENRIETTA  LEWIS, 

MAUD  EDNA  MOOSE, 

ELIZABETH  CADY  PRESCOTT, 

IDA  LOUISE  REVELEY, 

ERNINA  SUSAN  SMITH. 


4o 

List  of  Text  Books 

AUTHORIZED  TO  BE  USED  IN 

ROME  UNION  FREE  SCHOOLS. 


Appleton’s  Reading  Charts. 

Sheldon’s  Readers. 

What  Words  Say,  Kennedy. 

Meleney  &  Griffin’s  Speller. 

Wentworth’s  Arithmetics. 

Thompson’s  Commercial  Arithmetic. 
Appleton’s  Geographies. 

Spencerian  Writing  Books. 

Williams  &  Rogers’  Book-keeping. 

The  American  Text  Books  of  Art  Education. 
Wentworth’s  Geometry. 

“  Algebra. 

“  Trigonometry. 

Youngs’  Civil  Government. 

Gray’s  Botany. 

Hutchinson’s  Physiology. 

Holder’s  Zoology. 

Eliot  &  Storer’s  Chemistry. 

Lockyer’s  Astronomy. 

Barnes’  U.  S.  History. 

Lockwood’s  Lessons  in  English. 

Allen  &  Greenough’s  Latin  Grammar. 


LIST  OF  TEXT  BOOKS. 


41 


Comstock’s  First  Latin  Book. 

Greenough’s  Latin  Texts. 

Goodwin’s  Greek  Grammar  and  Texts. 

Keetel’s  French  Grammar  and  Reader. 

The  National  Music  Course,  by  Luther  Whiting  Mason- 
Avrey’s  Physics. 

Stone’s  History  of  England. 

Barnes’  History  of  Greece. 

Leighton’s  History  of  Rome. 

Sheldon’s  General  History. 

German  Grammar,  Collar’s  Eysenbach. 


twf  UW**1*  0t 

^W'938 


